CEO of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Justin Kodua, says they have saved the country over ¢32 million, following steps taken to verify the number of eligible beneficiaries on their payroll.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Nation Building Updates, a platform by government to highlight its successes, he explained that some 17,000 names have been eliminated after verification processes were undertaken.

“We introduced an electronic validation system whereby beneficiaries would be paid based on proof or evidence that they are working at post. Interestingly, after the process was completed, the number reduced from 62,825 to 45, 218,” he said.

According to him, the exercise was undertaken under the directives of the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, to update the list inherited from the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The YEA, established under the Youth Employment Act 2015 (Act 887) serves to empower young people to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic and sustainable development of the nation.

Its objective is to support the youth between the ages of 15 to 35 years through skills training and internship modules to transit from a situation of unemployment to that of employment.

The event also featured five others; Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from the National Youth Authority (NYA), Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP).

The young CEOs said the Akufo-Addo administration has made unprecedented strides by providing opportunities and hope for the Ghanaian youth.